Daemon-verse AU Sunshine

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine comes in from the garden with a basket of fresh herbs for the kitchen. A sprig of lavender blooms is tucked behind her ear, and perched upon it is a fuzzy yellow honeybee, resting its wings and sipping its fill of nectar from the tiny flowers. The slight weight of the bee makes the flower sprig bob slightly with each step.

"The lavender and rosemary can go up to dry, the garlic can be left to season, but I'm hoping to use some of the dill fresh," Rae murmurs, glancing upward at her companion as she navigates the tables and chairs with her basket. "We've got dill fronds and some of the flowers that've gone to seed... Should we try pickles? We can nab some fresh cucumbers and test it out. Maybe even... not do quick refrigerator pickles but try the fermented kind?"

The idea is daunting, sure, but they're up to the challenge.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

There's a raven in the rafters, with a white feather in one of its wings, watching them.

[sunbaked_baker]

The raven gets a mildly pleased look from the baker and the bee, the latter's wings buzzing slightly as it tries to get a better look. This isn't Diaval, but another raven familiar to them.

"Good morning," Rae says, with a slight smile.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Nevermore!, the raven caws.

She learned that the other day, and it has earned her treats.

[sunbaked_baker]

Mellifer buzzes excitedly as Rae beams at the bird.

"Ghastly grim and ancient raven, wandering from the Nightly shore," she attempts, grinning, "Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

NEVERMORE!

It seems the raven already knows those words.

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae grins, searching among the basket's contents for some of the blackberries she had found. Though Mellifer protests, buzzing around them and reminding Rae of the pie they had talked about making, Rae reaches up to set the shiny, juicy berries on the raven's rafter in offering.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The raven picks it up, turns its head, and swallows.

"Never more?" it says.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Careful you don't start saying 'more,'" Rae says wryly, setting another couple of berries up on the rafter. "Then people would likely be less entertained."

"Know where Ragnar is?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The raven takes one more berry, then flies over to where Ragnar is, and caws at him.

He gets up, and grins at Rae.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Your friend knows a soft touch when he sees one," she grins at him, snacking on a berry herself. As though it's any secret among human or Milliways-familiar animal that Rae is the person to go to for free food.

"How've you been, Ragnar?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Working on getting the boat together to start exploring," Ragnar says. "I have seen maps here, and people have helped me with what the words say."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Maybe one day you'll make your own maps," she smiles, her daemon buzzing down to perch upon her shoulder like a fuzzy yellow pin. "Where will you go?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"West," Ragnar says.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Maybe you'll reach where Independencia will be, one day." Rae suggests, smiling at him. "I hope it's a good journey, in any case, and a profitable one."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"It's good to know there's a lot of rich lands where we are going," Ragnar nods.